Improvement in machines for cleaning flax



C. BEACH.

Machine for Cleaning Fiax. No. 44,387. Patented Sept: 27, 1864 m newes" Nirnn STAT S FATENT FFICE.

CHARLES BEACH, OF PENN YAN, NE\V YORK.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 4H l1.37, dated September 27, 1864.

To aZZ whom it may concern- Be it known that I, CHARLES BEACH, of Penn Yan, in the county of Yates and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Machines for Picking and Cleaning Flax and other Fibers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure l is a central vertical section of my improved machine, the inner acting drum be ing shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a transverse horizontal section of the same in the plane of line 00 a, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, aplan of the base detached, showing more particularly the fanchamber.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

I obtained a patent September 23, 1862, for a machine for producing what is known as flare cotton, the flax being cut or torn into short pieces, and then cleaned of the shives by pass ing under powerful rollers. This manipulation, though it is effective in freeing the fiber from the stalks, does not perfectly clean it. My present machine is especially adapted to picking and cleaning the fiber after it has been subjectedtothe process of rolling, as above described; and it is, furthermore, equally adapted to the picking and cleaning of other short fibers such, for instance, as cotton. The method of treatment I employ is to pass the short fibers between a conical or cylindrical drum armed with teeth,and ahollow cone or cylinder which receives the former, also armed with teeth.

shives will be drawn therein; and, third, in

connection with the above, the use of an exhaust-fan beneath that draws the impurities downward and discharges them.

As represented in the drawings, a suitable base, A, is provided, supporting ahollow frustum of a cone or cylinder, 13, forming a case, within which is situated a drum, C, having its bearing at the bottom. inastep, a, andits shalt at the top passing through the case, and provided at the upper end with a pulley driven by a band, or some equivalent arrangement. At the top of the case, on one side, is situated a hopper, b, by which the fiber is fed in.

The outer case or bed, B, is provided with ribs D D, situated at suitable distances apart, the spaces between the ribs being bounded on the outside by plates 0 0 in such a manner as to be air-tight, while on the inside they are bound ed by wire-cloth or perforated metallic partitions (Z (1, thus leaving passages or compartments E E, leading from the top to the bottom, substantially as shown. The partitions dare not situated flush with the faces of the ribs, but are back of the said faces, thus leaving depressions g 9 between the ribs in front of the partitions, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. On one side, preferably that opposite the hopper, the partition (1 is made unperforated, and at its bottom is made an outlet, h, Fig. 1, for the discharge of the fiber after it has passed through the machine.

The drum 0 is provided with teeth i i on its periphery, pointing in the direction of its motion, and the faces of the ribs D are provided with similar teeth, it", pointing in the opposite direction, the eifcct of which arrangement is to thoroughly strip the fibers of shives.

Directly beneath thepassages E in the base A is situated a circular fan-chamber, G, Figs. 1 and 3, having an eduction-outlet, 7o, andin this chamber revolve fans H, attached by shanksl in any convenient manner to the base of the drum 0. by which means they receive motion. The fans are situated obliquely downward, so as to exhaust the air above. As the fiber is fed in above, it is carried downward between the teeth i and i, and finally discharged at h. The teeth by pointingin opposite directions, draw the fibers out and thoroughly pick them. At the moment of passing each rib the fibers fall back into the depressions y, where they collect in a mass, and roll over and over by the action of the drum till they reach the next rib, when they are drawn through again. This is of the greatest advantage, for by thus roll- .shives.

ing over the fibers are presented in a new position to each succeeding rib, and are thus most effectuallycleaned of the shivcs. It the whole of the interior of the case were continuous and covered with teeth, as the drum is, there would not be this agitation of the mass; but the fibers would be drawn through in one position, and thus would not be effectually cleaned of the In addition to this, the depressions 9 allow the fiber to fall therein as ity is carried around, thus gradually conveying the same downwardin the position to be discharged at h. I am not aware that toothed ribs alternating with spaeesr have ever before been used in connection with a central drum. As fast as the shives and dust are cleared from the fiber the same are drawn through the perforated parti tionsdinto the passages E, and carried downward by the exhaust into the chamber G, and finally discharged through the outlet 70. By this means I obtain a constant draft upon the fiber (luring its whole passage from top to bottom, which is most effective in accomplishing the purpose designed. By this arrangement of the ribs and intermediate passages, E, I not only aecomplish a more effective action on the fiber and more thoroughly draw off the impurities, but I economize in the construction, form, and space occupied by the machine.

. I I do not claim simply a toothed drum operating in ahollow cylinder or cone, as I am aware that the same has before been employed; but

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Forming the hollow case or bed with toothed ribs D, having intermediate spaces, g, the same being used in combination with the toothed drum 0, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In combination with the ribs Dand drum C, arranged as above described, the dust-passages E, bounded on the inside by the perforated partitions d, arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

3. The combined arrangement of the ribs D, passages D, drum 0, fan-chamber G, and fans H, as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. BEACH.

XVitnesses:

ELI PRIEST, FREDERICK XVIL'L'Is. 

